Demandice are situated along the brook Búr in the Ipeľ heights, south-east from Levice on the main communication route Nové Zámky – Lučenec. They are part of the Levice county. In 2001 the village had 1035 inhabitants. From the social facilities Demandice have the following: GP, dentist, pharmacy, post office, service centre, local shops, kindergarten and elementary school. Accomodation can be provided by 3 boarding houses. Travel connection with the surroundings is ensured by direct bus services to Nitra, Bratislava, Košice and Budapest.
View of Demandice from 1965
The area of today’s village has been continuosly settled ever since the Neolithic Age. The very first signs of settlement are from the Paleolithic Age, as confirmed by the archeologic finds in the local area called “Gunárova dolina”. In Haršaš, north-east from the village, excavations had uncovered some pottery dated back to the late Stone Age. At Čepek, the easternmost rondel of the lengyel culture from the 4th millennium BC was found. This find suggest the existence of a lengyel settlement nearby. Also worth mentioning are the exhibits exposed in 1896 at the Millennium Expo in Budapest. An iron fork arrow-head, iron axe and earrings found in Demandice come from the burial grounds dated back to the 10th century.
The earliest written mention of the name Demandice is from 1291, as “Damian”, the family name of the squires Herbord and Štefan, sons of Ibor. Jaminy (Godrok) and Stračany (Hýbec) are the names of the vanished villages that used to be situated in the area of today’s Demandice. The first written mention of the village is from 1276 and it is related to Hýbec (Hebuch) as mentioned in the Royal Bill of the king Ladislav IV. Kumánsky.
Demandice were part of the “Hont” county, the centre of which was Castle Hont only 20km far away. They were home to many noble houses until the 20ties of the last century. Some members of these houses were members of the Country Concilium, others were acting in the service of the crown and in various county functions. During the Turkish occupation in the 16th century the village had suddenly found itself in the war zone, being situated close to the border and also near the attractive mining towns. According to the Turkish records it was utterly destroyed in one of the devastating raids in 1599 and wasn’t restored until several decades after. The uprisings of Ugrian nobility in the 17th century also didn’t bring anything good to the village. In the beginning of the 18th century there were eight squire houses in the village, fourteen villein and fifteen “želiar” families. From noble houses the dominant ones were the Grasalkovichs in the 18th century and then the Simoniovci, Beňovskovci and Palugyaiovci in the 19th century. In 1828 the village had 124 houses and 718 inhabitants whose occupation was mostly in the agriculture and viniculture.
In “Description of Hungary” by András Vályi from 1796, Demandice were characterized under the name of Demanova as a Slovak village situated in the Hont County with mostly catholic inhabitants, good quality vineyards and rich on natural resources, especially wood. In 1851 Fényes Elek described the village of Demendicze in his Hungarian Geographical Dictionary as a Slovak Hont village with 720 Catholics and 20 Protestants. In 1910 Demandice are already mentioned as mostly Hungarian village with 724 inhabitants.
Probably the most famous native was Ladislav the Demandician (Deméndy László), the court surgeon of the King Ľudovít the Great. He also acted as the tutor of his daughters Hedviga (the Polish Queen) and Maria, the first Queen of Ugria, and as the executor of their mother’s last will (Queen Alžbeta Kotromaničová, the wife of the King Ľudovít the Great). Moreover, he was appointed the Bishop of Nitra, Veszprém and Varadin. He died in March 1382.
The crypt under the church of St. Michael the Archangel is the final resting place of a local priest and member of Bernolak’s movement Juraj Johannides (1771-1831). The university professor of canon law and church historian Imrich Palkovič (1704-1759) was yet another great native of Demandice. Ján Paczolay was a local squire, long-term member of the Contry Concilium and a Demandician portreeve who was born and died here. 28 February 1865 was the day of birth of Karol Baross, significant Ugrian viniculture expert, publicist and parliamentarian. During the retreat of Russian army after the battle of Slavkov in December 1805, their commander Mikhail Kutuzov had spent three days in Demandice.
A Roman-Catholic Parish Church of St. Michael the Archangel is standing in the central part of the village. It was built in Gothic style in the end of 14th century. In the village of Hýbec two kilometres to the east there is another church, the Filial Church of St. Helen the Empress. In fact, it is the oldest building in Demandice. The original Roman-Catholic Church comes from the 12th century and it was devoted to Virgin Mary. According to the legend, the first chapel in this place was built on the command of King Štefan in 1023. In the past it was an important pilgrim site. The oldest mundane building in Demandice is the Agat’s Mansion build in the Early-Baroque style around the year 1700.
After the World War I Demandice became part of the Czechoslovak Republic. Due to this fact some inhabitants emigrated to Hungary but other families from central Slovakia took their place and moved into the village. Moreover, 13 German families arrived from “Veľké Pole” and “Píla”. In 1938, following the Vienna Arbitration the village was attached to the Hungarian Kingdom. It remained so until 18 December 1944, the day of our liberation by the Soviet army. Twenty-seven Demandicians died during their service in the Hungarian army. In May 1944, our Jewish inhabitants were deported to the concentration camp Auschwitz. Fourteen of them found their death there. The first national committee in Demandice was established on 17 January 1945. It was also in charge of the neighbouring villages Maďarovce and Sazdice. Municipal administration based on democratic principles was restored after the ellections held on 23 and 24 November 1990.
Probably the most famous native was Ladislav the Demandician (Deméndy László), the court surgeon of the King Ľudovít the Great. He also acted as the tutor of his daughters Hedviga (the Polish Queen) and Maria, the first Queen of Ugria, and as the executor of their mother’s last will (Queen Alžbeta Kotromaničová, the wife of the King Ľudovít the Great). Moreover, he was appointed the Bishop of Nitra, Veszprém and Varadin. He died in March 1382.
Clerical procession by the Church of St. Helen the Empress, at Hýbec [hee-betz], in the first half of the 19th century
The crypt under the church of St. Michael the Archangel is the final resting place of a local priest and member of Bernolak’s movement Juraj Johannides (1771-1831). The university professor of canon law and church historian Imrich Palkovič (1704-1759) was yet another great native of Demandice. Ján Paczolay was a local squire, long-term member of the Contry Concilium and a Demandician portreeve who was born and died here. 28 February 1865 was the day of birth of Karol Baross, significant Ugrian viniculture expert, publicist and parliamentarian. During the retreat of Russian army after the battle of Slavkov in December 1805, their commander Mikhail Kutuzov had spent three days in Demandice.
A Roman-Catholic Parish Church of St. Michael the Archangel is standing in the central part of the village. It was built in Gothic style in the end of 14th century. In the village of Hýbec two kilometres to the east there is another church, the Filial Church of St. Helen the Empress. In fact, it is the oldest building in Demandice. The original Roman-Catholic Church comes from the 12th century and it was devoted to Virgin Mary. According to the legend, the first chapel in this place was built on the command of King Štefan in 1023. In the past it was an important pilgrim site. The oldest mundane building in Demandice is the Agat’s Mansion build in the Early-Baroque style around the year 1700.
Agat’s Mansion build in the Early-Baroque style
After the World War I Demandice became part of the Czechoslovak Republic. Due to this fact some inhabitants emigrated to Hungary but other families from central Slovakia took their place and moved into the village. Moreover, 13 German families arrived from “Veľké Pole” and “Píla”. In 1938, following the Vienna Arbitration the village was attached to the Hungarian Kingdom. It remained so until 18 December 1944, the day of our liberation by the Soviet army. Twenty-seven Demandicians died during their service in the Hungarian army. In May 1944, our Jewish inhabitants were deported to the concentration camp Auschwitz. Fourteen of them found their death there. The first national committee in Demandice was established on 17 January 1945. It was also in charge of the neighbouring villages Maďarovce and Sazdice. Municipal administration based on democratic principles was restored after the ellections held on 23 and 24 November 1990.
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